News
UNC/NC State spinout company raises $5.8M for ‘smart’ insulin devices
A Research Triangle Park startup founded by Zhen Gu, PhD, a biomedical engineer with joint faculty appointments at UNC and NC State University received a $5.8 million cash infusion to continue translation efforts of ‘smart’ insulin devices.
UNC Lineberger research featured at ASCO Annual Meeting
Research presented by UNC Lineberger members was featured in plenary and other major sessions of the meeting this year, and was picked up by multiple media outlets.
Biomedical engineer named a finalist in U.S. State Department research, education award
Zhen Gu, PhD, a researcher and professor in the UNC-NC State Joint Biomedical Engineering Program, received an international award for young investigators, and he was a finalist in a national research and education award.
UNC co-leads large clinical trial on new combo therapy for type 2 diabetes
New insulin degludec has comparable cardiovascular safety rates to insulin glargine U100 but with less risk of triggering low blood sugar.
Researchers strive to improve cancer care for older patients
At the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago, UNC Lineberger researchers led by Hyman B. Muss, MD, presented preliminary findings from several studies focused on older adults with cancer.
Researchers show how a cancer gene protects genome organization
UNC study uncovers crucial function of a yeast enzyme Set2 whose well-conserved human counterpart is often mutated in cancers, especially kidney cancer.
Where Cigarette Smoking’s Damage is Done . . . Down to Your DNA
A new technique from UNC School of Medicine scientists led by Nobel Prize winner Aziz Sancar reveals the genome-wide DNA damage that a major carcinogen causes.
Is the finger-stick blood test necessary for type 2 diabetes treatment?
In the first large pragmatic trial of its kind in the United States, results from a UNC School of Medicine study show that checking finger-stick blood sugars may not help diabetes patients who do not use insulin.
UNC researchers lead clinical trial evaluating potential treatment for postpartum depression
A phase 2, double-blind study of the investigational medication, brexanolone, in the treatment of women with severe PPD published in The Lancet. Clinical trials are currently underway at UNC.
President Trump intends to appoint UNC Lineberger’s Norman Sharpless as National Cancer Institute director
UNC Lineberger Director Norman E. Sharpless, MD, is being considered as the next director of the nation's top cancer agency.
Taking stock of the Collaborative Cross
Five years ago, the journals Genetics and G3 published a series of papers that reported the first data from the genetic resource population known as the Collaborative Cross. This week, two journals release special issues highlighting the breadth of work this tool has made possible.
Predicting Autism: Study Links Infant Brain Connections to Diagnoses at Age 2
In two previous studies, University of North Carolina researchers and colleagues linked infant brain anatomy differences to autism diagnoses at age two. Now they show differences in functional connections between brain regions at 6 months to predict autism at age two.
Promising results found for treatment of melanoma in the brain
At the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting 2017 in Chicago, researchers presented promising data for two different investigational drug regimens used to treat melanoma that has spread to the brain, a common and deadly complication of this cancer.
New models of kidney cancer may drive immunotherapy research
UNC Lineberger member William Y. Kim, MD, and his colleagues report in the journal Nature Communications they have created mouse models of both papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma that faithfully mimic the genetic changes seen in tumors of patients with these cancers.
UNC REX Healthcare presents run/walk to end prostate cancer
The inaugural Zero – The End of Prostate Cancer run/walk in Raleigh takes place at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, June 24.
With ‘new life’ after transplant, cancer survivor renews marriage vows
Recognizing that her husband now had a chance for a new, healthier life thanks to a stem cell transplant, Jackie Hannah secretly arranged for a ceremony for her husband David and her to renew their marriage vows. While he was in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in March, just after the transplant, and still dressed in his pajamas, David married Jackie again with hospital staff in attendance.
Black, white men view impacts of prostate cancer treatment differently, study finds
UNC Lineberger researchers led by Ronald C. Chen surveyed 1,171 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in North Carolina, finding that while both white and black men were concerned about curing their cancer and the quality-of-life impacts of treatment, more black men considered other social and personal factors -- such as recovery time and cost -- to be very important in their treatment decision-making.
Payments linked to higher odds of doctors prescribing certain cancer drugs
In preliminary findings that will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting 2017 in Chicago on Saturday, June 3, researchers show that when physicians had to choose between multiple, on-patent drugs for metastatic kidney cancer and chronic myeloid leukemia, they were more likely to prescribe drugs from companies they had received general payments from.
Researchers continue to seek strategy for starving brain tumors
In the journal Cancer Research, UNC Lineberger researchers led by member Timothy R. Gershon, MD, PhD, report in the latest in a series of attempts to shut down the energy production machinery in medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. The findings may help researchers identify a suitable therapeutic target within the sugar metabolism pathway, and provide clues to a scientific mystery surrounding the confounding way that some cancer cells get energy from sugar.
Camp Celebrate: Play with a Purpose
Camp Celebrate, a camp for pediatric burn survivors, organized by the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, welcomed campers for a weekend of fun and healing.